Gainesville Sun
May, 1999
We drew strings of roundabouts down Tower Road, much like the buttons on a wedding dress .
I was one of hundreds of citizens that showed up to express concern for the future of Tower Road. We've had no plans, no vision, and no resources allocated to handle the new homes and businesses in the area. We've had no support from our elected officials in protecting our sense of community. We're clearly headed towards a Newberry or Archer Road feel, with lots of disjointed strip malls, and expansive lanes of fast traffic. Recent zoning and building activities fueled the largest turnout ever hosted by our facilitators.
We learned a lot in the 3 days of discussions. We discussed "Petri-dish" growth patterns, where life and resources are found on the fringe, and are sucked out of the center. Gainesville seems like that. How do we change? Are we too stubborn?
We saw how schools sited away from main roads help kids bike or walk to without crossing fast, heavy traffic. We saw that subdivisions funnel all the traffic onto Tower Road, and that connections between subdivisions disburse traffic, and can be pleasant for all involved. We viewed pictures of islands, trees, and road colors that naturally slow traffic to optimum speeds.
We were shown the joy of roundabouts, and why they are safer, cheaper, and environmentally friendly. Concerns we raised on all topics were considered and discussed. Residents learned about planning techniques. Planners, county AND CITY commissioners learned about us.
What do we want? Do we have a vision?
We want a livable community: A place that is clean, green, and pleasing to live in. One in which our children can get to school on their own, shopping and recreation is close and pleasant, and work is easy to get to. We see ourselves as a unified neighborhood with diverse incomes, interests, and occupations. We know each other and our children. For as much growth as we've had, we're still a community. We want that to continue.
We drew maps with bike trails extending from Archer Road to 8th Ave. away from Tower Road. We opened connections to Santa Fe Community College, and extended roads and paths over and under the I-75.
We drew strings of roundabouts down Tower Road, much like the buttons on a wedding dress.
All kinds of proposals came from residents: reclaimed water in medians for trees and flowers, bus turnouts. We opened roads with barricades in them, and disbursed parklands. We required developers to live on site. Don't like living above or behind Eckerds? (Or the cement plant?) What needs to change? Existing neighbors appreciate those changes, too!!
Almost all of us want Tower to remain 2 lanes wide. Will that handle enough traffic as we grow? How much traffic can we divert, or eliminate all together with better transit options, or facilities closer to home? How many new homes and businesses can we handle, and will the density be high enough to justify busses or light rail?
60% of our commuters head to Shands or UF: will we take a bus if offered one? A great deal of Tower Traffic centers around the schools. Why are students driven to school? Can we change our habits?
Residents are jaded. Past commissions deprived us of basics. Parks take decades to develop. Schools and roads burst at the seams as more homes (kids, and cars) are negligently approved. The high turnout at the Charrette speaks to the hope we hold. Will hope and vision be enough?
Tower Road and its roundabouts are a lot like the buttons on a wedding dress. The image is beautiful and seductive. What's on the other side of the package is a mystery. Will it be a joy to live with? Will it grow and change with us? Are we prepared to take dangerous steps into the future?